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Abstract:

There are provided a plane light source and an LCD backlight unit having
the same. A plane light source having a plurality of light emitting
devices arranged in a light emitting device matrix having rows and
columns at a substrate according to an aspect of the invention includes a
first matrix having a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in
rows and columns; and a second matrix having a plurality of light
emitting devices arranged in rows and columns, each of the light emitting
devices located within a quadrangle formed by four neighboring light
emitting devices included in the first matrix, wherein a pitch S between
one light emitting device included in the light emitting device matrix
and another light emitting device most adjacent to the one light emitting
device satisfies the following equation to obtain uniform luminance
distribution at a position distant from a light emitting surface of the
light emitting device by an optical length l,
S≦12×tan(θ2+α), Equation
where--π/18≦α≦π/18 is satisfied, and θ is
an orientation angle of the light emitting device.

Claims:

1. A plane light source having a plurality of light emitting devices
arranged in a light emitting device matrix having rows and columns at a
substrate, the plane light source comprising: a first matrix having a
plurality of light emitting devices arranged in rows and columns; and a
second matrix having a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in
rows and columns, each of the light emitting devices located within a
quadrangle formed by four neighboring light emitting devices included in
the first matrix, wherein a pitch S between one light emitting device
included in the light emitting device matrix and another light emitting
device most adjacent to the one light emitting device satisfies the
following equation to obtain uniform luminance distribution at a position
on a diffusion sheet, the position distant from a light emitting surface
of the light emitting device by an optical length l, S ≦ l
2 × tan ( θ 2 + α ) , Equation
##EQU00003## where -.pi./18.ltoreq.α≦π/18 is satisfied,
and θ is an orientation angle of the light emitting device.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application
No. 2007-0046845 filed on May 15, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a plane light source and an LCD
backlight unit having the same, and more particularly, to a plane light
source that increases efficiency and reduces the number of light emitting
devices by optimizing the arrangement and pitch of a plurality of light
emitting devices, and an LCD backlight unit having the same.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) that are used as
light sources of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) according to the related
art use mercury gas. For this reason, the CCFL may cause environmental
contamination, has low response speed and lower color reproducibility,
and may not lead to a reduction in size, thickness, and weight of an LCD
panel.

[0006] Contrary to the CCFL, a light emitting diode (LED) is
environment-friendly, has a response speed of several nanoseconds so as
to achieve high-speed response and be effective for a video signal
stream, and allows impulsive driving. Further, the LED has a color
reproducibility of 100% or more, varies in luminance, color temperature,
and the like by controlling the intensity of light of red, green, and
blue LEDs, and can result in a reduction in size, thickness, and weight
of the LCD panel. Accordingly, the LED has been widely used as a light
source for the backlight unit of the LCD panel or the like.

[0007] The LCD backlight using the LEDs may be divided into an edge type
backlight and a direct type backlight according to the position of a
light source. In a case of the edge type backlight, a bar-shaped CCFL
having width larger than length is positioned at the side thereof and
emits light onto a front surface of the LCD panel by using a light guide
panel. In a case of the direct type backlight, a plane light source is
positioned at a lower part of the LCD panel, and light is directly
irradiated to a front surface of the LCD panel from the plane light
source that has almost the same area as the LCD panel.

[0008]FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an arrangement of light emitting
devices in a plane light source according to the related art.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, a plane light source 100 that is used in a
direct type LCD panel according to the related art includes a plurality
of LEDs 102 that are arranged in rows and columns at a substrate 101.
Here, it may be considered that four neighboring LEDs 102 of the
plurality of LEDs 102 form a rectangle.

[0010] However, such an arrangement requires a larger number of LEDs used
to cover the same light emitting area than necessary.

[0011] Further, a difference in brightness between an area adjacent to
each LED 102 and an area distant from the LED 102, specifically, the
center of the rectangle formed by the four LEDs 102 may be large. That
is, when a number of LEDs 102 are arranged, uniformity of brightness may
be achieved. However, when the number of LEDs is reduced to improve
efficiency as described above, the distance between the neighboring LEDs
becomes larger. This may cause a change in brightness distribution.

[0012] Therefore, for a plane light source used in the LCD panel or the
like, there is a need for a method of improving the performance of the
plane light resource by reducing the number of light emitting devices
used in the plane light source to cause little difference in brightness,
that is, achieve uniformity of luminance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An aspect of the present invention provides a plane light source
that reduces the number of light emitting devices and increases
efficiency by optimizing the arrangement and pitch of a plurality of
light emitting devices, and an LCD backlight unit having the same.

[0014] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a plane light source having a plurality of light emitting devices
arranged in a light emitting device matrix having rows and columns at a
substrate, the plane light source including: a first matrix having a
plurality of light emitting devices arranged in rows and columns; and a
second matrix having a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in
rows and columns, each of the light emitting devices located within a
quadrangle formed by four neighboring light emitting devices included in
the first matrix, wherein a pitch S between one light emitting device
included in the light emitting device matrix and another light emitting
device most adjacent to the one light emitting device satisfies the
following equation to obtain uniform luminance distribution at a position
distant from a light emitting surface of the light emitting device by an
optical length l,

S ≦ l 2 × tan ( θ 2 + α ) ,
Equation ##EQU00001##

where -π/18≦α≦π/18 is satisfied, and θ is
an orientation angle of the light emitting device.

[0015] The plane light emitting device may further include a diffusion
sheet arranged along a light emitting path of the light emitting device.

[0016] The diffusion sheet may be separated from the light emission
surface of the light emitting device by the optical length l.

[0017] Each of the light emitting devices included in the second matrix
may be positioned at the center of the quadrangle.

[0018] The light emitting device may emit white light.

[0019] The pitch S between one light emitting device included in the light
emitting device matrix and another light emitting device most adjacent to
the one light emitting device may satisfy the above-described equation.

[0020] θ may be in the range of
110°≦θ≦130°.

[0021] α may be in the range of
-π/90≦α≦π/90.

[0022] The light emitting device is an LED.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an LCD backlight unit attached to a rear surface of an LCD
panel, the LCD backlight unit including: the plane light source, a
diffusion sheet provided toward an LCD panel close to the plane light
source and uniformly diffusing light incident thereon from the plane
light source, and at least one light collecting sheet provided toward the
LCD panel close to the diffusion sheet and collecting the light diffused
by the diffusion sheet in a direction vertical to a plane of the LCD
panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of light
emitting devices of a plane light source according to the related art.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of light
emitting devices of a plane light source according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating relative intensity with respect to
divergence angle of light in a light emitting device.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a view illustrating luminance according to a distance
from a light emitting device at a position distant from the light
emitting device by an optical length.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a view illustrating changes in light flux and luminance
in an optical sheet according to a light emission angle and a horizontal
distance in the light emitting device, respectively.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating luminance distribution of two
neighboring light emitting devices separated from each other by a
distance S.

[0031]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view illustrating an LCD backlight unit
300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0032] FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are views illustrating an arrangement of light
emitting devices and luminance distribution to make a comparison between
a plan light source according to an embodiment of the present invention
and the light emitting device according to the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] The invention may however be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention
to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions
may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be
used throughout to designate the same or like components.

[0035]FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of light
emitting devices in a plane light source according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention.

[0036] A plane light source 200 according to this embodiment of the
invention includes a plurality of light emitting devices 202 that are
arranged at a substrate 201.

[0037] The light emitting devices 202 are arranged in a matrix with rows
and columns in a zigzag fashion. A second matrix having the same
configuration as a first matrix is arranged within the first matrix that
has a plurality of light emitting devices arranged in rows and columns
that are arranged in a straight line. Specifically, the first matrix has
the light emitting devices arranged in rows and columns in a straight
line, and each of the light emitting devices included in the second
matrix is positioned inside a quadrangle formed by four neighboring light
emitting devices included in the first matrix.

[0038] In order to improve the uniformity of luminance and luminous
efficiency of the plane light source, the arrangement and pitch of the
light emitting devices of the first and second matrices may be different
from each other.

[0039] As described above, since the columns of the light emitting devices
are not arranged in a straight line but in a zigzag line, the number of
light emitting devices can be reduced by about 15 to 25% for the same
light emitting area.

[0040] Meanwhile, the light emitting devices 202 are not particularly
limited, but LEDs may be used as the light emitting devices 202. Devices
that emit white light are preferably adopted so that the devices can be
widely used as light sources.

[0041] In this embodiment, in addition to the above-described method of
arranging the plurality of light emitting devices, pitches S1 and S2
between the neighboring light emitting devices 202 of the plane light
source 200 are optimized to ensure uniformity of luminance of the plane
light source 200. In this case, a pitch S between one light emitting
device 202 and a light emitting device most adjacent to the one light
emitting device 202 may be determined by the following Equation 1.

S ≦ l 2 × tan ( θ 2 + α )
[ Equation 1 ] ##EQU00002##

[0042] In the Equation 1, l is an optical length, which may be understood
as a distance by which light moves in a vertical direction from a light
emitting surface of the light emitting devices 202. In this case, a
diffusion sheet (not shown) may be arranged at a position corresponding
to the optical length l to diffuse light. Further, in the Equation 1,
-π/18≦α≦π/18 is satisfied, and θ is an
orientation angle.

[0043] The Equation 1 is derived to make the luminance of the plane light
source 200 uniform. A principle thereof will now be described.

[0044] First, meaning of the orientation angle used in the description of
the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a
view illustrating relative intensity according to divergence angle of
light in a light emitting device. Here, it may be considered that
luminous intensity refers to luminous flux regardless of an incidence
area of light.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, light emitted from the light emitting surface
of the light emitting devices 202 to the outside is scattered off the
light emitting surface at an angle of 0 to 180°. Here, maximum
luminous intensity I0 is obtained in an upper vertical direction
with respect to the light emitting surface, and luminous intensity equal
to half of the maximum luminous intensity I0 is obtained at a
predetermined angle. An orientation angle is within the range of the
angle at which half of the maximum luminous intensity I0 is
obtained. In FIG. 3, the orientation angle is θ.

[0046] The orientation angle depends on structural characteristics of the
light emitting devices 202. In light emitting devices having a general
structure, the orientation angle may be in the range of 110 to
130°. However, even when the orientation angle is not in the
range, conditions of the Equation 1 according to the embodiment of the
invention can be satisfied.

[0047]FIG. 4 is a view illustrating luminance according to a distance
from the light emitting device at a position distant from the light
emitting device by the optical length l. In FIG. 4, half of the range of
the orientation angle is only shown in consideration of the symmetrical
configuration of FIG. 3.

[0048] As described above, the light emitted from the light emitting
device 202 is scattered in all directions. In FIG. 4, among emitted light
components, a light component emitted in the upper vertical direction and
a light component emitted at an angle of θ/2 with respect to the
upper vertical direction reach a diffusion sheet (not shown) that is
separated from the light emitting device 202 by the optical length l.

[0049] In this embodiment, as described above, the luminous intensity,
shown in FIG. 3, does not take the incidence area of light into
consideration, a value obtained by dividing intensity flux by light
incidence area is practically used as luminance to indicate luminous
intensity.

[0050] First, the light emitted in the upper vertical direction moves
along the optical length l and reaches the diffusion sheet. In
consideration of light emitted within a small angle range δ, a
length L1 along which the light in the angle range δ is incident
upon the diffusion sheet may be approximated to l×δ. At this
time, it is assumed that the length l along which light moves is much
greater than the angle δ. Therefore, an area where the light
emitted in the upper vertical direction is incident upon the diffusion
sheet is L1×L1, and luminance L0 is
I0/(l×δ)2.

[0051] In the same manner, when the luminance of light emitted at an angle
of θ/2 at the diffusion sheet is calculated, a distance D along
which the emitted light reaches the diffusion sheet may be approximated
to l/{cos(θ/2)}, and a length L2 along which the emitted light is
incident upon the diffusion sheet is l×δ/{cos(θ/2)}.
Further, an area where the light emitted at the angle of θ/2 is
made incident upon the diffusion sheet is L2×L2, which is equal to
(l×δ)2/{cos(θ/2)}2. Therefore, luminance with
respect to the angle of θ/2 is
I0X{cos(θ/2)}2/{2×(l×δ)2}. This
would be expressed as luminance in the upper vertical direction of
L0/2×{cos(θ/2)}2.

[0052] As described above, the luminous flux of the light emitted at the
angle of θ/2 has half of the size of the light flux of the light
emitted in the upper vertical direction. When the light emitted at the
angle of θ/2 moves up to the diffusion sheet, which may be a target
to achieve uniformity of luminance, a much lower luminance is obtained.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a view
illustrating changes in luminous flux and luminance in a diffusion sheet
according to a light emission angle and a horizontal distance in the
light emitting device, respectively.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, relative luminance of the light emitted at the
angle of θ/2 is much lower than half of the maximum value. This is
because {cos(θ/2)}2 is less than 1. For example, when θ
is 120° as an orientation angle that may be generally considered,
the relative luminance is only one eight of the maximum value. In FIG. 5,
a distance indicated by dc is a distance by which the light emitted
at the angle of θ/2 moves in a horizontal direction with respect to
the light emitting device 202 before the light reaches the diffusion
sheet. The distance dc has a value of l/{tan(θ/2)}.

[0054] Therefore, when the distance between the neighboring light emitting
devices is adjusted to improve uniformity of luminance in the plane light
source w the plurality of light emitting devices are arranged, if the two
neighboring light emitting devices are separated from each other by the
distance of 2dc relative luminance obtained in the middle of the
light emitting devices by adding luminance values of both of the light
emitting devices is much less than 1. That is, in order to improve the
uniformity of luminance of the plane light source, uniform luminance
distribution needs to be provided at the position corresponding to the
optical length l. Therefore, a value obtained by adding the relative
luminance values of the two neighboring light emitting devices needs to
approximate to 1 but has a value much smaller than 1. For example, when
θ is 120°, the value is 1/4(1/8+1/8).

[0055] Therefore, the neighboring light emitting devices need to be closer
to each other. A detailed description thereof will be made with reference
to FIG. 6.

[0056]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating luminance of two neighboring light
emitting devices distant from each other by a pitch S. Referring to FIG.
6, when the two light emitting devices are separated from each other by
the pitch S, a point at which relative luminance of one light emitting
device is 1/2 is almost the same as at point at which relative luminance
of the other light emitting device is 1/2. Therefore, as compared when
the pitch S is larger than the distance dc, the uniformity of
luminance is significantly improved.

[0057] In this case, a range of the value S may be appropriately
controlled to about half of the range of the value dc. Since the
distance dc is l/{tan(θ/2)}, an equation similar with the
Equation 1 may be obtained.

[0058] Meanwhile, even though the description has been made of the case in
which light components of the two light emitting devices are combined,
since a great number of light emitting devices are arranged in the plane
light source, influences of other distant light emitting devices need to
be considered. That is, even when the neighboring light emitting devices
are separated from each other by a distance an upper vertical direction
more or less larger than the pitch S of FIG. 6, uniform luminance may be
obtained.

[0059] Therefore, in this embodiment, the angle can be controlled within a
range close to the orientation angle. Therefore, such an equation as the
Equation 1 may be proposed. In this case, the value a, which is a factor
serving as the control method, is in the range of
-π/18≦α≦π/18. The most desirable value that is
obtained from the structure, shown in FIG. 2, through experiments is
approximately π/90. In this embodiment, the value a may vary according
to the orientation angle of the light emitting device, the pitch between
the light emitting devices, and the arrangement of the light emitting
devices.

[0060] The above-described plane light source according to the embodiment
of the invention may be used in an LCD backlight unit 300 that emits rear
light of an LCD panel.

[0061]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view illustrating the LCD backlight unit
300 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown
in FIG. 7, the LCD backlight unit 300 that is attached to the rear of the
LCD panel has the above-described plane light source 1 according to the
embodiment of the invention and a diffusion sheet 316. The diffusion
sheet 316 is provided toward an LCD panel 310 close to the plane light
source 1 and uniformly diffuses light incident thereon from the plane
light source 1.

[0062] Further, the LCD backlight unit 300 includes at least one light
collecting sheet 314. The at least one light collecting sheet 314 is
provided toward the LCD panel 310 close to the diffusion sheet 316 and
collects light, diffused by the diffusion sheet 316, in a vertical
direction with respect to the plane of the LCD panel 310. The LCD
backlight unit 300 may further include a protector sheet 312. The
protector sheet 312 is disposed at the light collecting sheet 314 and
protects an optical structure under the protector sheet 312.

[0063] Further, the plane light source 1 includes a substrate 351 and a
plurality of light emitting devices 352 that are arranged in a matrix at
the substrate 351. The plane light source 1 may further include a side
wall 354 and a reflective layer 356. The side wall 354 is formed at the
edge of an upper surface of the substrate 351 to encompass the light
emitting devices 352 arranged in the matrix. Also, the side wall 354 has
inclined surfaces in a direction in which the light emitting devices 352
are arranged. The reflective layer 351 is formed at the upper surface of
the substrate 351 and reflects light emitted from the light emitting
devices 352 upwards.

[0064] Preferably, a reflective material 354a is applied to the inclined
surfaces of the side wall 354 to emit light, emitted toward the side,
upwards.

[0065] The diffusion sheet 316 located above the plane light source 1
diffuses light incident thereon from the plane light source 1 to thereby
prevent a partial concentration of light. Further, the diffusion sheet
316 adjusts a direction of light moving toward the first light collecting
sheet 314a to reduce an angle of inclination with respect to the first
light collecting sheet 314a. As described above, the distances between
the light emitting devices 352 included in the plane light source 1 and
the diffusion sheet 316 correspond to the optical length l in the
Equation 1, and therefore, the distance therebetween may be determined
according to the arrangement of the light emitting devices 352.
Inversely, the arrangement of the light emitting devices 352 may be
determined according to the distances between the light emitting devices
352 and the diffusion sheet 316.

[0066] Each of the first light collecting sheet 314a and the second light
collecting sheet 314b includes triangular prisms arranged in a
predetermined manner on an upper surface thereof. The prisms of the first
light collecting sheet 314a are arranged at a predetermined angle (for
example, 90°) with respect to those of the second light collecting
sheet 314b. Each of the first and second light collecting sheets 314a and
314b collects light diffused by the diffusion sheet 316 in a direction
vertical to the plane of the LCD panel 310. In this way, desirable
vertical incidence of light passing through the first and second light
collecting sheets 314a and 314b with respect to the protector sheet 312
is obtained. Most of the light passing through the first and second light
collecting sheets 314a and 314b moves in a vertical direction to obtain
uniform luminance distribution in the protector sheet 312. In FIG. 7, the
two light collecting sheets are used as one example. However, one light
collecting sheet may be only used.

[0067] The protector sheet 312 that is formed above the second light
collecting sheet 314b protects the surface of the second light collecting
sheet 314b and at the same time, diffuses light to obtain uniform
distribution of light. The LCD panel 310 is formed above the protector
sheet 312.

[0068] As such, the LCD backlight unit 300 according to this embodiment
that uses the plane light source 1 to obtain uniform luminance
distribution of emitted light can reduce a change in brightness according
to regions of the LCD panel.

[0069] Finally, FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a comparison in uniformity
of luminance between the plane light source according to the embodiment
of the invention and a plane light source according to the related art.

[0070] First, an arrangement of light emitting devices, shown in FIG. 8A,
is the same as the arrangement described in FIG. 2. The distance between
the light emitting devices satisfies the Equation 1. Further, for
experiments, the plane light source having the arrangement, shown in FIG.
2, is used in a 40-inch backlight unit like FIG. 7. When the 40-inch
backlight unit uses the plane light source having the arrangement, shown
in FIG. 2, the number of light emitting devices can be reduced by
approximately 25% as compared with the number of light emitting devices
according to the related art.

[0071] FIG. 8B is a view illustrating luminance distribution of light
emitted from the plane light source according to the related art, shown
in FIG. 1, along a direction vertical to a light emitting direction. FIG.
8C is a view illustrating a result of the embodiment of FIG. 8A. Here, it
may be understood that a horizontal axis of each of the graphs of FIGS.
8B and 8C indicates distances in right and left directions on the basis
of a predetermined light emitting device like FIGS. 4 to 6.

[0072] Referring to FIGS. 8B and 8C, the plane light source according to
this embodiment of the invention shows almost the same luminance
intensity as that of the related art. Considering the fact that the
number of light emitting devices is reduced by approximately 25%, it can
be seen that efficiency is significantly improved than before.

[0073] Further, even though the reduced number of light emitting devices
causes an increase in average distance between the light emitting devices
as compared with the related art, uniformity of luminance distribution is
not reduced at all, but rather, the uniformity of luminance distribution
is improved than before.

[0074] As set forth above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the
invention, it is possible to provide a plane light source that reduces
the number of light emitting devices and increases efficiency by
optimizing the arrangement and pitch of a plurality of light emitting
devices and an LCD backlight unit having the same. Further, according to
the embodiments of the invention, the plane light source can obtain
uniform luminance.

While the present invention has been shown and described in connection
with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.